Michael Wolff

Michael Blieden Wolff (born July 31, 1952) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and music producer. He became known for serving as the bandleader and musical director of The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–94).

Wolff was honored as a Steinway Artist and obtained a Broadcast Music, Inc. award. He provided the score for and co-produced The Tic Code (1998). He also co-starred with his sons, Nat and Alex, in the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band (2007–09), earning him a BMI Cable Award for producing and supervising the series' music. Wolff was the leader of the jazz band Impure Thoughts. Reconstructed as Wolff & Clark Expedition, it is a jazz-funk group.

Childhood and family life Wolff was born on July 31, 1952, to a Jewish family in Victorville, California, and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the son of Lise (Silverman) and Marvin Wolff, a medical doctor who treated Elvis Presley when the Wolffs settled in Memphis, Tennessee. Michael began studying classical piano at age eight. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Berkeley, California,

Wolff's mother remarried psychiatrist Neal Blumenfeld (Wolff's stepfather), who died on December 1, 2013. He has two step-siblings, Mimi and Judy. Wolff married actress Polly Draper in 1992; they have two sons together, Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff, who starred in and wrote the music for The Naked Brothers Band film and series that was created and produced by Draper. Draper also wrote and starred in The Tic Code, a musical drama film influenced by Wolff's life with Tourette syndrome to which he contributed the score. He then joined Cannonball Adderley's band in 1975. In 1977, he formed the band Answering Service with saxophonist Alex Foster. Wolff worked with other famous artists, including Frank Sinatra, Warren Zevon, Bobby McFerrin, The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Jean-Luc Ponty, Children On The Corner, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tony Williams, and Christian McBride.

In 1978, singer Nancy Wilson chose Wolff as her musical director. He met his wife, actress Polly Draper, when she appeared as a guest on the show. and in 1997 the trio released 2AM. Wolff was the leader of the jazz band 'Impure Thoughts' which features Indian tabla player Badal Roy, drummer Mike Clark, percussionist Frank Colón and electric bassist John B. Williams.

He wrote music for the films Who's the Man?, The Tic Code, and Made up, as well as writing for and performing in other films. Wolff co-starred with his sons in The Naked Brothers Band television series on Nickelodeon, serving as the co-executive producer and music supervisor, which Draper created, executive produced, wrote, and directed. In addition, Wolff co-starred in and produced the music for The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie, which later served as the pilot for the TV series. Cal Tjader and Charlie Byrd, Tambu (Fantasy, 1973)

Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1987 Magic Sticks Bob 1998 The Tic Code Engineer #2 Also co-producer and wrote original score 2005 The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie Dad Also contributed the underscore and produced and arranged the music 2007 The Girl in the Park Jazz Club Piano Player

Television Year Program or series Role Notes 1989–1994 The Arsenio Hall Show Himself Bandleader and musical director 1990 Beverly Hills, 90210 Duane "Every Dream Has Its Price (Tag)" episode 2007–2009 The Naked Brothers Band Dad/Mr. Wolff/Sonny Wolff Also co-executive producer, music producer, and music supervisor

Awards and honors Wolff was honored as a Steinway Artist in June 2006. The Tic Code won awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, Giffoni Film Festival and Hamptons International Film Festival. With his sons, Wolff won a Broadcast Music Cable Award in 2007 for the music on The Naked Brothers Band TV series.